Dave C Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Apologies if this topic has been raised before; was the Vickers Wellesley developed into a mark 2 version withe as continuous `green house' cockpit canopy as per this image. http://priskos.atw.hu/Alakulatok-Hadserege...llesley%20I.jpg or was this a local field modification during the 1940 - 1941 Middle East or East African/Ethiopian campaign. Would anyone know what the squadron, camouflage colours, serial No/squadron code was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 According to the Profile Publication booklet, it was a one-off test aircraft. The 'MK.II " designation was never used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 You're welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 K7740 was lost on its delivery flight to the Middle East, so did not serve with any squadron. Camouflage was Dark Green and Dark Earth with Night undersides. The photograph shows an unusual attachment between the cockpits and a specialised intake - it does not seem to have been on other ME Wellesleys so is perhaps not a tropical intake. It has been suggested, but has not been proven, that more than one aircraft had this canopy. The non-standard (later?) roundel is suggestive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thompson Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Say - that extended canopy really makes the old girl look quite sleek, no? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 (edited) Sigh... I hope Classic Airframes comes back. The Wellesley and the Heyford seem naturals for the CA treatment in 1/48... PS: "Sleek" is a relative term, no? Edited October 12, 2011 by Jennings Heilig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Just found these two images here: http://www.airwar.ru/enc/bww2/wellesl.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Some more here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/520549/thre................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 So I'm seeing at least 2 serials - K7740 and K7720 - plus 3 different types of roundels. So how many aircraft were modified with this new glazing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Sigh... I hope Classic Airframes comes back. The Wellesley and the Heyford seem naturals for the CA treatment in 1/48... I'd second that!! K (I'd also like them to come back & re-issue the Blenheims, Hudson & Meteors please....!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 So I'm seeing at least 2 serials - K7740 and K7720 - plus 3 different types of roundels. So how many aircraft were modified with this new glazing? No-one knows how many. What all three (I also see K7762) have in common is that they were not delivered to the ME before mid 1939, which may be a hint. K7720 appears to be in the UK. K7762 has the Munich period roundels (B type), late 1938-39. K7740 and K7720 have the standard pre-war (A1 type) roundels. The unidentified aircraft has a later variant with reduced light areas - a local attempt at a C1 type roundel? - which would make it a very late Wellesley. K7726 appears to be the last, delivered to the ME late in 1939 and still recorded flying in 1943, but 47 Sq were still flying at least three Wellesleys until late 1942. K8531's last recorded operational date is 8/12/42, and she was another later delivery to the ME. The other two contenders are K8528, not shipped until 1940, and K7769, but she was coded D and a 1938 delivery. The last Wellesleys were struck off charge in mid 1943 and even in 1944, but that's unlikely to imply they were still flying then. So a working theory is that this canopy was fitted to at least some of the Wellesleys still in the UK in 1939. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Kunac-Tabinor Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Also not the twin vickers K gun installation on the Welly with the "C" type roundel. Theres pic in the " Dust clouds in East Africa" book whihc shows a Welly with this canopy too. Always wondered .... I'd hold out for Special Hobby myself Jonners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Eisenman Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 In 1/48 it would have to come from SH. And to think, I live in Wellesley.... MA. It so appeals to me... So ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 (edited) Not the clearest of images, but interesting. This could be K7720 or K7740. Both were listed as being with No.223 Sqd. in the Profile booklet. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a date. Edited October 13, 2011 by dogsbody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I wonder how 'standard' this 'non-standard' glazing was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 K8524 damaged by CR.32s on 29 July 1940 and written off after return to Summit - another was badly damaged K7747 shot up by CR.42s on 12.June 1940 and badl;y damaged, crashed on landing at Summit. Another was so badly damaged it was written off. Not identified: could be K7750 or K7783. (or maybe one I missed....) Sources: Dust Clouds in the Middle East and Air Britain's The K File. Looks like K7747 is the strongest possibility, which is another of the later deliveries. That's beginning to look consistent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 This is why I LOVE Britmodeller - 'cos people actually take an interest in esoteric questions and we all learn something new. Great info Graham! One question - are the AO-K code letters visible in the original image 'cos I can't see any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 (edited) The AO is (just) visible on my computer. Screw your eyes up and squint. Not the K. It could be K7720, if it was repaired. This served with 223, 47 and 223 again before being recorded as damaged by flak 27/9/40, but the date of transfer from 47 to 223 is not published. It cannot be K7740, as this crashed into the sea off Pointe de Aguillon, France, 4/4/40, on its delivery flight to the ME. It may have been allocated to 223, but it didn't get there. PS note the Vickers from the side window of dogsbody's post 7. Edited October 13, 2011 by Graham Boak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 This is why I LOVE Britmodeller - 'cos people actually take an interest in esoteric questions and we all learn something new. Isn't "Wellesley" a synonym for "esoteric"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 (edited) Absolutely! My very favourite thing (aside from Buffalos, Boomerangs, Blenheims, Oxfords and Vildebeests...Oh, and P-35As in the Philippines. Then there are P-66s and P-43s. And how could I forget the CW-21B...and the Wirraway...and, and, and!!) Edited October 13, 2011 by mhaselden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 The AO is (just) visible on my computer. Screw your eyes up and squint. Not the K.It could be K7720, if it was repaired. This served with 223, 47 and 223 again before being recorded as damaged by flak 27/9/40, but the date of transfer from 47 to 223 is not published. It cannot be K7740, as this crashed into the sea off Pointe de Aguillon, France, 4/4/40, on its delivery flight to the ME. It may have been allocated to 223, but it didn't get there. PS note the Vickers from the side window of dogsbody's post 7. Good eye there, Graham. I didn't notice that. Thanks for the additional info, too. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Took me quite a while to work out what it was. One thought: I haven't been looking in the L series for 223 Sq aircraft, so there may be more possible options. The Air Britain L series book is less detailed than that of the K series, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 (edited) It probably has more information than I have. This is what's in the Profile booklet. Edited October 14, 2011 by dogsbody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 A quick look in the L series suggests no obvious extra candidates for AO.K, but several for the very late one. It would be good to find the original copy of this, to see if any hint of the serial can be seen on the fuselage. Is that an 8 on the end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Ol' dopey me! I should have posted this with the other image. It doesn't help with the serial number problem, but here it is anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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